I really hate to keep bugging everyone with questions,
surveys, etc., but it's getting really close to when
some really difficult decisions will have to be made (click
here for more regarding this subject) and I'm asking
everyone who is even considering coming to Florida in
March to take the time to fill out this updated feedback
form. Thank you in advance for your
participation...

Special Notice: We need your feedback!

Please complete
the form below as soon as possible and submit it to us
so that we can move

forward with the planning of this
great event...

Regarding The
Planning...

Many of you have been following the updates on our
Facebook page pretty close, but there are others of you
there whom I have not heard from since we began putting
this together back in March. I currently show 57
individuals/families, 41 Herbie's, and 119 individuals
who have indicated that they were coming and it is
imperative that I have a pretty close count if certain
planning can be wrapped up before the end of the year.
An event this large just does not happen on it's own and
if we want things to go smoothly, I ask that you take a
few minutes to read the following so that you understand
the importance of getting your feedback on the above
form even if you have completed one in the past.

Let me try and summarize where we stand to date...

The
timeline of events are pretty straight
forward and can be found at
http://herbies50yrreunion.com/events.htm.
We need to get a good idea of how many will
actually be attending and what your plans are if
different from those shown. Getting good
hotel reservations (I have over 85 rooms
currently being reserved in Orlando but the
contracts only last so long),
breakfast/lunch/dinner plans, organizing with
different groups such as Don Garlits, The Dezer
Orlando Car Museum/Adventure
Park, Old Town, Disney and Lakeland VW
Classic are paramount.

We have not raised the money requested to
bring Joaquin Garay III to the event, however,
he has graciously agreed to be here and has
already booked his flights, hotels, etc..
He will be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday
for some really cool opportunities such as
riding along with us in our cars, a question and
answer period, and much more. We still
need your help in collecting additional funds to
support his trip. You can give now by
going to
https://paypal.me/pools/c/831kZKuvan
or as some have indicated, you could contribute
once you arrive.

Disney is working with us although it is taking
forever to find out exactly what they plan to do
for us. They are now saying that they can
give us the Herbie Wing of the All Star Resort
that was just recently remodeled, but we still
have to meet the minimum number of rooms that
are required to keep the contract with them.
I have also asked for security, traffic control
around the parks, special parking at certain
locations and prime locations for photo
opportunities. I have mentioned to them
that I was pretty sure that most of you would
commit to taking your cars into one of the parks
if they wanted to do so. I don't think
this will happen due to the liability but if it
does, it would be on Saturday and we would
forfeit the night at Old Town.

Hotel bookings are really important. You
can check out the hotels at
http://herbies50yrreunion.com/places%20to%20stay.htm,
including the All Star Resort at Disney.
Disney is the only location that requires that
we maintain a minimum of 10 rooms from Thursday,
March 14 and checking out on Monday, March 18.
I've been pushing this really hard in that right
now we are short of having the 10 we need and on
Sunday night, several are planning on checking
out so that leaves us really short.
Several are planning on rooming together which
is fine as long as each person is registered by
name with Disney. The critical thing with
these rooms is that if we do not have a good
enough buffer before the end of the year (some
may have to cancel out at the last minute or
check out early), I will have to cancel this
contract with them or pay them the shortage
which we simply cannot do. I do not know
if they would allow those who have made
reservations keep their rooms, if the rates
would change, etc., but I really don't want to
find out. Therefore, if you have not made
your reservation yet (even if you are not
bringing a car), do so by calling Disney
Reservations at
407-939-4686 and tell
them you are with the Herbies 50 Year
Anniversary group.

I have submitted
the required paperwork requesting that the event
be considered for a new World Record in the
Guinness Book of World Records for the largest
gathering of Herbies in the World! I have
not heard back from them yet, but I'm expecting
a response at any time. Each Herbie owner
would be listed as a participant.

Shin Watanabe from
Hot VW Magazine will be at the event to document
and write a full article regarding the event.
In addition, I have been contacted by Julien-David
Collombet from France who is the chief editor of
Super VW Magazine and who has also expressed a
desire to join us.

The Dezer Orlando
Car Museum/Adventure Park is not opened yet (but
should be for the event), but I have had the
privilege to meet with the director and we have
discussed how best to combine the anniversary
with their great display of cars including two
of the Herbies from Herbie Fully Loaded.
This will be a real highlight of the event on
Friday afternoon with a great display of the
cars and the showing of The Love Bug wither on
an outdoor screen or on their giant indoor
screen.

The Lakeland VW
Classic on Sunday should be a blast. They
are planning their show around all the Herbie
cars and Joaquin being there. Eddie has
planned on giving away a '73 bug this year
instead of his normal sand rail, having a giant
cake which Joaquin will cut for the crowd, and
then having him pull the winning number for the
car that will be decorated like a Herbie and
autographing it for the winner. Yes, I
know, a '73 looks nothing like the originals,
but someone is going to win a great car worth
over $5000, and that person could be you.

I have talked with
the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing which is
located directly on I-75 as you come down to
Orlando from out of state and they are excited
to have us meet at the museum and enjoy their
great display of history if we want to, and then
we can drive to Orlando together and possibly
have dinner on the way. I don't know if
this will be even remotely possible with
everyone's schedules, but it's there if we want
it.

Shirts and other
items have been made available for the event at
Viralstyle. There are multiple styles,
men's, women's and children's clothing available
and more. There is a 7 day order
period on each item and then it is sent to
manufacturing. You should normally receive
you item with 15 days. These items are
digitally printed and so far seem to be of
pretty good quality. They are being sold
at cost...

These are just some of
the details but you should have a pretty good idea
of what to expect. Please, please help me out
by filling out the form above as quickly and as
completely as you can.

I want to thank you
once again for your enthusiasm and commitment to
making this event the best ever.